Taking a proactive stance? Leaping to action?

There's a good reason I'm not a writer.

'slap the beagle'?

This brings up all sorts of strange and perhaps obscene connotations.

Happy birthday, Nora!

I explained that with exercising in the morning, getting the kids ready for school, walking the kids to the bus stop, going to work, making dinner, cleaning up the kitchen, taking care of the kids and getting them to bed my day already has 15 1/2 hours accounted for. I need a little unaccounted time.

Jeez louise! Yeah, you do.

So, my super did come, and will be back after talking to the landlord. There's a ton of water damage all up and down the wall. Of course I have meetings I need to be here for most days this week, so we'll see how this goes.

Hey Gud, I was thinking last night about your kids and wondering how they are doing in school. Are the both in public school now? How it is working out?

They are doing well. Emaryn is in 4th grade and doing well in school. She's really opened up socially as well, which has been great for her. I'm a bit concerned about lack of motivation though. That was a problem homeschooling as well.

Leif is doing great, he's in two classrooms, 2nd grade and in 3rd grade for math. This year he is really doing well socially. Last year I think he struggled a bit socially, but he came into 1st grade halfway though the year and he was only 5. Staring out in school has helped.

How are your kids doing? Is Casper getting close to school age?

Gud, in this concern of you getting more sleep, does it ever come up if the DW can take some of the stuff off your plate? Or is her plate full as well?

There are some depression issues, so she can get overwhelmed pretty easily, especially dealing with the kids. It gets complicated.

Casper's in K (just turned 5) and happy, although I am wondering how challenged she is. She is also a not super-motivated one - likes coloring and art projects but rushes through work she's not interested in. We get our first reports next week, so I am hoping to know more then.

Casper's in K (just turned 5) and happy, although I am wondering how challenged she is.

Challenge has been the primary concern with school, especially with Leif. The principal has been really willing to work with us though.

What? FEMA incompetent? Finger-pointing? I am shocked.

[link]

No, no, no! Not on my birthday! (averts gaze from Trudy)

::glares at September 15th::

Don't worry, if it happens you can join our club. We don't have any dues and people will buy you alcohol.

Speaking of kids, I should mentions some books for other b.org kids.

Leif, 6, has been really enjoying reading The Riot Brothers books by Mary Amato. He also really likes the Horace Splattly books by Lawrence David. He's read Scooby Doo, Baily School Kids, Magic Tree House, and A-Z Mystery books, but they haven't got him reading the way those other books have.

Emaryn, 9, is a reading machine, but she is an Artemis Fowl fangirl. She's reading another Eoin Colfer book right now as well, Benny and Babe, and enjoying that. She also really likes the Dear America series of historical fiction books, and all the various Laura Ingels Wilder books. Right now she's usually reading one book intermingled with re-reading an Artemis Fowl book.